Braves to begin and end '13 season against Phils
Twins will also visit Atlanta for first time since '91 World Series
There will be an odd sense in the air when the Braves begin next year's regular season with an April 1 game against the Phillies at Turner Field. This will mark just the third time in the past nine years that they have opened at home. More importantly, it will mark the first time since 1995 that they have started a season without Chipper Jones.
With the Astros' move to the American League making it 15 teams in both the American and National Leaugues, Interleague games will be played throughout the season. The Braves will play their first when they begin a two-game series against the Royals on April 16 in Atlanta. The teams will also meet in Kansas City for a two-game series that will begin on June 25.
This year's altered Interleague schedule will also give the Braves and Blue Jays something new to experience. The teams will play in Toronto on May 27 and 28. As soon as that series concludes, the two teams will travel to Atlanta to begin a two-game series on May 29.
The Braves have made three trips to Minnesota over the past 10 years. But when the Twins come to Turner Field for a three-game series that will begin on May 20, it will mark the first time they have played in Atlanta since losing each of the three games played at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium during the 1991 World Series.
The Twins, Blue Jays and Indians served as the first three opponents the Braves faced while making five trips to the World Series during the 1990s. The Indians will be in Atlanta for a three-game series that begins on Aug. 27.
Other Interleague games include a three-game series against the Tigers from April 26-28 at Comerica Park. The Braves will open the post All-Star break portion of their schedule with a three-game series against the White Sox from July 19-21.
After welcoming the Phillies to Atlanta to begin the season, the Braves will conclude a six-game homestand with a three-game set against the Cubs. Their first road trip will include stops to play the Marlins (April 8-10) and Nationals (April 12-14).
The Braves will conclude next year's schedule with a seven-game homestand against the Brewers (Sept. 23-25) and the Phillies (Sept. 26-29).